23 
Brief reference was made to the Alder (A/nas glutinosa) 
frequenting stream sides in peaty districts; to the Hornbeam 
(Carpinus Betulus ), which, although frequently planted in parks, 
appear to be really wild in the chalk districts of England. 
By some authorities the Beech was considered to be an 
introduced tree, because Czesar says that he did not notice it: 
but the Lecturer considered it to be one of our native species, 
and showed photographs of some large pollard trees in Burnham 
Beeches, and also some from the escarpment of Edge Hill, as 
well as some distant views of Beech woods in the Thames valley. 
The Birch ( Betala alba) was then described, and a photo- 
graph. of a very lovely tree from Invernesshire, as well as others 
from Loch Katrine, Invercauld, and Killicrankie were shewn. 
The Oak tree, particularly emblematic of England, was 
described as being one of the oldest trees, being able to exist 
nearly 2,000 years. The Queen’s Oak, still flourishing in 
Northamptonshire, was mentioned in Domesday Book. Photo- 
graphs of the Byron Oak at Newstead Abbey, of the Major Oak 
in Sherwood Forest, of the Radley Oak, and others were 
exhibited, and allusion made to the tree in Windsor Forest, 
which was a favourite of William the Conqueror, and of the 
celebrated one at Oxford, by which William of Waynflete founded 
Magdalen College. The Oak, although one of our largest trees 
in girth and in its spread of branches, rarely exceeded 70 feet in 
height. The use of the wood in shipbuilding, and it being the 
material of which the Round Table at Winchester was made, was 
alluded to, as well as its name being frequently represented in 
Britain as in Oakham, Wokingham, Woking, &c., testified to its 
being one of our native trees. 
Several species of Willows were briefly alluded to; the chief 
of these is the White Willow, so frequent by stream sides, and 
_ which, if unpollard, will attain a height of 80 feet. The use of 
the wood for the manufacture of cricket bats was mentioned, as 
well as the process and effects of pollarding. Views of Post 
_ Meadow, Oxford, and of the Willows by the Thames, at Lechlade, 

and Wallingford were shewn. 
The Poplar, of which we had one native and three or four 
introduced species, was then described, and photographs were 
shewn of the Black Poplar (a frequently planted tree in the 
Midlands) from Sanford Lasher. The Lombardy Poplar was by 
_ some botanists considered to be a fastigiate variety of this species. 
The truly native species is the Aspen ( Populus tremula). 
The native gymnospermous trees next received attention— 
_ they are all evergreen. The Yew (Zaxus baccata) is one of the 
_ oldest trees known in Britain, and is supposed to attain an age 
_ Of over 2,000 years ; the one, of which a photograph was shewn, 
at Iffley is supposed to be cceval with the Church, and the one at 
ise s Abbey is supposed to be even older than the building 
itse 
